Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



B. S. ROBERTS.

v Breech-Loading Fire-Arm. No. 65.607. Patented June 1], 1867v N.PEYER5,PHOTO-UTHOGRAPNER, WASHINGYON. n C,

pliedto a breech-frame and BENJAMIN s. ROBERTS,- or UNITED STATES ARMY.

lMPR OVE MENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 65,607, dated June 11,1867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B. S. ROBERTS, of the United States Army, haveinvented a new and Improved Breech-Loading Fire-Arm; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making apartof this specification,in which Figure 1 is a side view of my inventionapportion of a barrel of a fire arm. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section taken vertically through the center of the arm.Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same parts, with the breech-piece throwndown to expose the breech of the barrel Fig. 5 is a sectional view,showin g the mode of extracting the cartridge-shells from the barrel.Fig. 6 is a side View of the breech-piece, showing the application ofthe firing-pin to it.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements on my patent forbreech-loading fire-arms, and is designed for more perfectly carryingout the principle therein set forth, of opening and closing the breechof a barrel with a pivoted swinging breech-section, which is constructedwith a flat forward end, that will fit squarely against the breech ofthe barrel and cartridge-shell when in place in line with the barrel,and which is so applied to the frame of the barrelthat when in positionfor firing the piece this section will be sustained by a solid abutmentof said frame.

The object of this invention is to employ a breech-piece which swingsabout a curved abutment formed on the frame to which the barrel issecured, and to apply to the front end of this breech-piece a rockingblock having a flat face, which will fit squarely against the breech endof the barrel when in line therewith, and which will allow of theswinging of the breech-piece in the act of opening and closing the rearend of the barrel, as will be hereinafter described.

Another object of my invention is to employ a sliding firing-pin inconjunction with a swinging breech-piece having a rocking block appliedto its front end, said. firing-pin being provided with a striking-piece,which will ac- Another object of my invention is to effect theextraction or loosening of the cartridgeshell in the barrel at themoment the breechpiece is moved to a position for allowing of the escapeof the shell, by having the rocking block 011 the breech-piece strikeone end of a pivoted plate which lies in front of the flange of suchshell at such moment, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I willdescribe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a solid breech-frame,consisting of the re-enforce a, into which the rear end of the barrel Ais screwed for giving strength to the barrel at this point, two parallelcheeks, b b, between which the breech-piece is supported laterally, anda solid abutment, c, which has its front face rounded concentric to theaxis of motion of the breech-piece, and which terminates in a tang, d,to which the lever-latch is connected.

"Within the space formed between the two cheeks b b of frame A is abreech-piece, B, the rear end of which is curved, so as to fit snuglyand move upon the corresponding convex surface c, and from the upperportion of this end a curved lever, B, projects backward, and, when downin place, fits snugly upon the upper solid face of abutment c and tangd, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The lower rear corner of the breech-piece B terminates in a lip, e,which, when the breechpiece is fully depressed, as shown in Figs. 4 and5, will strike against a pin, e, and thus prevent further descent ofsaid breech-piece. The breech-pieceis thus caused to move about aconcentric abutment, instead of being con nected to a pivot, thusaifording greater strength and admitting of the use of a very shortbreech-piece.

The forward end of the breech-piece B has a semicircular groove formedtransversely in it, for receiving a correspondingtenon, f which isformed on a block, g, as Shown in Figs. 3,

2 case? 4, and 5. The front face of this block 9 is flat, so that whenin the position shown in Fig. 3 this face will fit squarely against thevertical face h, and also against the butt-end of the cartridge-shell. Asufficient space is left between the rear surface of the block 9 andfront surface of the breech-block B to allow this block a rockingmovement, so that when the front end of block B is depressed to exposethe breech of thebarrel A the block 9 will moveperpendicularly downwardfor a short distance, and then swing in the arc of a circle with thebreech-block B. In ascending to its former position block g makes thesame movementas described.

The distance from the axis of motion of the breech-piece B to the centerof the front end of the rocking block 9 should be equal to the distancefrom said axis to a point touching the center of the butt of thecartridge-shell when the latter is in place, as shown in Fig. 3. Thisrenders it necessary to leave sucha space between the blocks B and g aswill allow the upper end of the latter to recede as it descends. Theposition of the breech-block B, when latched down by the latch G, asshown in Fig. 3, is such that the recoil of the discharge is receiveddirectly upon the solid abutment c.

The upper surface of the breech-block and rocking block is groovedlongitudinally, so as to allow space in rear of the barrel, when theblock B is depressed, for the backward escape of the cartridge-shell,and also for the insertion of a ball-cartridge.

On one side of the breech-piece B an inclined groove is formed, in whichis inserted a firing-pin, j, upon the upper end of which the hammerstrikes. The lower end of this pin j abuts against a wedge-shaped pin,k, which is fitted into a recess formed in the rocking block 9, as shownin Fig. 6.

Pink is allowed to have a slight endwise movement in its recess, so thatwhen struck by pin j its front end will strike the flange of thecartridge and ignite the powder therein This pin is is also allowed torock with the block 9 in opening and closing the breech of the barrel.

On the opposite sideof the breech-piece g a groove, m, is made, leavinga lip, n, and in this groove the lower end of an extractingplate, 10,projects. This plate is pivoted in a recess formed in one side of thebarrel, so that its upper end shall lie closely in the annular groovewhich is made in the barrel, to receive the flange on the cartridges.The upper end of plate p is thus arranged in such a position that when acartridge is inserted in the rear end of the barrel said plate will fallin front of the flange on this cartridge. When lever B is suddenlyraised the lip 01. will strike the lower projecting end of the plate 1),and thus thrust backward the upper end of this plate, and with it thecartridge-shell.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a breech-piece, B, which swings about a curvedabutment, c, a rocking block, g, so applied to said breechpiece as toallow of the opening and closing of the breech of the barrel for theinsertion and withdrawal of a cartridge, substantially as described.

2. The lever B, formed on the rear curved end of the swinging breech-piece B, and adapted to move about the solid abutment c, in combinationwith a rocking block, g, which will admit of the opening and closing ofthe breech, substantially as described.

3. The groove m in the rocking block g, op erating on the lever at theshoulder n, so as to extract the cartridge, substantially as described.

BENJ. S. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE PoMUTz, OSCAR G. SAWYER.

